Chapter 2
Castle's Apartment
Kate & Alexis
The two women arrived at the apartment just as the snow began to fall. The had stopped by the grocery store because Castle had requested that Kate make her potato soup since they had not had a chance to taste the last batch. the store had been a madhouse as New Yorker stocked up on bottled water, milk and bread. Kate had just shaken her head and grabbed one of the last gallons of milk. Alexis had scoured the produce section for Sweet potatoes. She had gotten her NaNa's sweet potato casserole recipe and wanted to try cooking it for Christmas dinner. At last tired and a little frazzled they arrived home.
"I;m glad to see that Dad got you your own Parking Garage pass."
"Well if he hadn't I would be spending my month's salary on parking."
As they put the groceries away Alexis was happy to see that Kate had taken the time to familiarize herself with the kitchen layout. She wanted the Detective to feel at home here. The two women quickly put their things away.
"So have you and Dad tackled the living arrangement issue yet? Alexis was brimming with curiosity.
"We haven't gotten there yet, but I am going to keep my place, for the time being, at least."
"But Kate." Alexis protested," Isn't that setting up for failure?"
"Alexis your father and I have both had a very poor track record when it comes to relationships. For now, it just makes sense that we don't burn our bridges. Besides, where would I put all my stuff."
"We have two guest rooms we could convert those to a place for your stuff." Alexis supplied.
"Then where would the guests sleep?"
"We don't have a lot of sleep in guests anyway."
"What's the rush?" Kate queried.
"What if I have problems that I can't talk to Dad about. Things that I need to talk to my M…, My father's girlfriend about. Alexis backtracked
"Oh, Honey you have my cell number you can call anytime," Kate said
Alexis impulsively hugged her friend," It's always better face to face.
"What's up with you and your dad? You both are starting to sound like the seagulls from 'Finding Nemo'"
"Mine… Mine,,,: Alexis parroted.
The conversation was cut off by the ringing of the doorbell. Without really thinking about it Kate headed to answer the door.
She heard "Mine… Mine…" echoing from the kitchen.
When she opened the Door she saw Richard standing there. He was dressed festively, with a bright red knitted scarf he was wearing a black cashmere coat and a top hat with a sprig of plastic holly stuffed in the brim. Upon his shoulder, he was carrying a huge ham.
" 'ello, be ye the mistress of this fine 'ouse?" Castle asked in a horrible English accent. "My name is Bob Scratch-it, and this 'ere be Tiny Jim." He patted the ham on his shoulder.
"Well come on in Scratch-it and bring the pig with you." Kate smiled.
Castle came in and went into the kitchen and placed the ham down with a definite thud. "Good gracious Richard did you buy the whole pig." Kate asked after she perused the huge ham.
"No, ma'am. This here pig was imported from the colony of Virginia where they grow 'em big.
So which army is coming to dinner?"
"Just the three of us but these cured hams keep forever."
"Castle swooped in between the two women who were perusing the smoked porker. He grabbed them up in a hug. "Ok here's the deal this is officially our Eve of Christmas Eve. So if either of you has any solitary business to take care of then you have approximately 24 hours to get it done. I have ordered tonight's repast from the Thai place you both seem to love. It should be here in about half an hour. Why don't you go unpack and then after dinner you can pick the movie to watch." HE said to Alexis.
As Alexis trundled off he grabbed Kate up in a passionate kiss. His ardor had not diminished and they lost themselves in the kiss. When they parted she could see the fire in his eyes. He began moving her towards the bedroom.
"Richard, No, we don't have time for that nor;" Kate said regretfully.
"It will only take a second" Castle promised.
"It BETTER take longer than that" Beckett admonished.
"I just want to show you something." He cooed
"I've already seen your etching, She smiled at the in-joke.
Castle lead her into his walk-in closet. Kate saw that the right-hand side was now devoid of clothes. The built-in dresser drawers were partially ajar and were also empty. She began to lodge a protest.
"Kate, I know that you are not going to move in yet and I understand that, but I want you to stay here as much as you can, So it only makes sense that you have a place to put your clothes. Putting them in the guest room is just a waste of energy. I want you to be as comfortable here as possible and that means making space for you in my… OUR closet. The more at home you feel here the more you'll want to stay. Richard again gathered Beckett up into a soul-searing kiss.
"Are you two decent?" came Alexis' question, causing them to break the kiss.
"Is there a sock on the doorknob?" Castle queried.
"No" came the puzzled response.
"Then we're decent," Richard stated.
So Dad…" Alexis started then stopped when she saw the empty side to the closet. "Nice… So Dad, you know that you said that we could do solitary stuff until tomorrow night?"
"Yes…." The Author said a trifle dubiously
"Well, Paige just called and is going stir crazy at her house… Well she asked if I could come to spend the weekend with her. I said I couldn't do the weekend because we had plans for Tomorrow night on" Alexis hurried on "But I said I could sleepover tonight… Please…."
"Honey the snow storm….." Castle hedged.
"It's only a couple of blocks, Dad" Alexis pleaded. "Kate help me out"
"Oh I see," Castle fumed, "You just wanted Kate here so I would be in the minority."
"Give me a second with your father, Alexis" Kate drew Castle into the bedroom. She grabbed his hands and put them on the small of her back. And wrapped hers around his neck. "Listen, Kitten, Alexis has been away from her friends all Christmas break long." She looked at him with her bedroom eyes. "I promise to make it worth your while."
"All right." The Author said begrudgingly.
"Alexis you can go, on two conditions. We walk you there and back and you come back in time to help Kate cook the soup tomorrow afternoon."
"Done," Alexis shouted gleefully. "Thanks, Dad" she kisses his cheek. "Thanks, Kate"
"You want us to walk her to Paige's in the storm," Castle asked though it wasn't really a question.
"It will be fun and very romantic, besides we want to get that blood flowing… Stud Muffin/"
